Candidate Brief Financial Operations Manager Reference: R190034

Salary: Grade 9, £40,792 to £48,677 per annum

Contract Type: Continuing

Basis: Full time

Closing Date: 23.59 hours GMT on Friday 15 February 2019.

Interview Date: Wednesday 27 February 2019.

Job description Job Purpose:

The post holder will ensure that financial operational and treasury activities are executed and delivered as per the policies of the organisation and standards set by the Head of Financial Operations and Treasury. Which has full oversight of the, accounts receivable, accounts payable and cash management functions. A strong technical finance professional, they will need to be analytical and precise while being pragmatic and commercial. Extensive and proven track record of team management. They will need to be personable, and able to work collaboratively with colleagues within and outside the Finance Department and manage staff effectively. Good system knowledge and the ability to challenge the status quo and improve processes is essential. They will be a decision maker, managing varied, competing demands and timescales. A continuous business and cultural improvement approach is essential, underpinned by excellent service provision. Main Duties/Responsibilities:

To provide senior support as deputy to the Head of Financial Operations & Treasury in all areas. Manage three direct reports; Accounts Payable Manager, Accounts Receivable Manager and

Treasury Manager. Daily oversight of the Accounts Receivable including front facing student credit control, Accounts

Payable and Cash Management teams. Manage and support the teams within Financial Operations & Treasury, ensuring that they are

coached, trained and appropriately resourced to fulfil their responsibilities. Providing day to day developmental support in line with University policies and departmental culture.

Through leadership, create a climate that not only achieves the objectives, but also fosters team working and collaboration. This will require you to lead on the recruitment, induction, training and coaching of new and current team members.

Support the Head of Financial Operations and Treasury by monitoring the long and short term cash flow reports fed by information from the capital programme, business partners and financial operations teams, as set out in the cash flow forecasting framework.

Coordinate service delivery and performance across three streams of work, led by your direct reports within the team, ensuring both qualitative and quantitative key financial, business targets and KPIs are met as part of support of front facing service.

Implement new processes and controls where needed to ensure that the University’s financial front facing services are relevant, robust and efficient. Use continuous improvement to drive change.

Operational Management

Manage and coordinate the operational daily duties of the team ensuring the deliverables of best practice and compliance are met and aligned with Anti-Money Laundering, PCI DSS, and cash handling procedures.

Daily oversight to ensure the teams meet objectives that are set by the Head of Financial Operations and Treasury, to contribute to the wider Finance Department strategy, and ultimately, supporting the development of high quality services, assisting on operational cross University initiatives, and support in sharing and promoting best practice.

To manage the daily operational functions of the treasury and banking management processes, in line with the organisation Governance Policy set by the Head of Financial Operations and Treasury.

Manage the operational processes that affect students and all payers’ experience, as the main contact for third party providers including the daily management of all e-commerce payment portals.

Manage the web pages of the Finance Department, working with the wider team to create content, keep the site up-todate and informative and liaise with the Marketing and Communications Department to ensure the department is well-represented on the website.

Membership of a number of University wide student focus committees and working groups, working collaboratively with colleagues to provide a streamline support for students accessing the finance service .

Ensure that the University transactional ledger and subsidiary ledgers are accurately controlled, with the timely and robust reconciliation of all control accounts (including investigation and correlation of variances), so that the financial position of the University can be determined accurately at any time. This will include the monthly review and approval of bank and balance sheet reconciliations.

Analyse, evaluate and report on the Financial Operations and Treasury Team’s effectiveness and performance as part of the departmental and University’s standard monitoring practices. Including the completion of the annual QAA Professional Services Framework.

Act as an escalation point for students, who face personal and cultural barriers or challenges to paying their fees within the publish timescales. Escalate as appropriate to the Head of Financial Operations & Treasury.

Additional responsibilities

Engage in continuous personal and professional development in line with the demands of the role, including undertaking relevant training and development activities to develop themselves and support the development of others.

Ensure and promote the personal health, safety and wellbeing of staff and students. Carry out duties in a way which promotes fairness in all matters and which engenders trust. Promote equality of opportunity and support diversity and inclusion as well as working to support the

University’s environmental sustainability agenda and practices.

Person specification

Essential Method of assessment

Education and qualifications

To be a member of a chartered UK accountancy or equivalent professional body.

Application form

Experience Excellent line management experience. Knowledge and understanding of appropriate authorisation and control structures in a large and complex organisation. Experience of delivering outputs on a regular basis, under tight deadlines.

Application form and interview

Aptitude and skills Must be able to lead and work successfully in a team environment. Must be confident and robust yet diplomatic. Strong technical accounting with good attention to detail. A problem solver, with a strong track record of providing pragmatic, commercial and risk-based improvements to processes. Strong IT skills with an ability to use Microsoft Office proficiently and identify efficient use of technology. Demonstrable “can do” approach to work. Must be able to manage own work and others to meet pressured deadlines. Excellent networking and liaison skills, both internally across the University and externally. Effective and engaging presentational skills. Advanced analytical and organisational skills. Business improvement process and skills.

Application form and interview

Knowledge Significant treasury and investment experience. Application form and interview

Desirable Method of assessment

Education and qualifications

A degree in a relevant subject (e.g.; accountancy, business and finance or similar). Alternatively a Certificate in professional treasury or banking or the ability to demonstrate a combination of the qualifications, knowledge, experience and skills at a comparable level.

Application form

Experience Knowledge and understanding of appropriate authorisation and control structures in an HE sector based organisation.

Application form and interview

Aptitude and skills Significant level of Financial System experience e.g. AGRESSO, Coda, Sun etc. Proven ability to optimise opportunities presented for the benefit of the organisation.

Application form and interview

How to apply You can apply for this role online via our website www.aston.ac.uk/jobs. Applications should be submitted by 23.59pm on the advertised closing date. All applicants must complete an application form, along with your CV. Any CV sent direct to the Recruitment Team and Recruiting Manager will not be accepted. If you require a manual application form then please contact the Recruitment Team via recruitment@aston.ac.uk.

Contact Information Enquiries about the vacancy: Name: Doreen Bailey Job Title: Head of Financial Operations and Treasury Email: D.M.Bailey@aston.ac.uk Enquiries about the application process, shortlisting or interviews: Recruitment Team via recruitment@aston.ac.uk or 0121 204 4500.

Additional Information

Visit our website www.aston.ac.uk/hr for full details of our salary scales and benefits Aston University staff enjoy

Salary Scales: http://www.aston.ac.uk/staff/hr/payroll-pensions-and-benefits/salary-scales/

Benefits: http://www.aston.ac.uk/staff/hr/payroll-pensions-and-benefits/

Working in Birmingham: http://www.aston.ac.uk/birmingham/city-living/

Employment of Ex-Offenders: Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, a person with a criminal record is not required to disclose any spent convictions unless the positions they applying for is listed an exception under the act.

Eligibility to work in the UK: Candidates who are not citizens of the United Kingdom, or another EEA member country, should check their eligibility to enter or remain the UK in advance of making any job application via the UKVI website https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas. Before applying you should ensure that you meet the requirements, including meeting the English language standards. If you do not meet the eligibility criteria, any application for a work visa would be unsuccessful

Equal Opportunities: Aston University promotes equality and diversity in all aspects of its work. We aim to ensure, through our admissions policies for students, and our staff recruitment and selection processes that we encourage applications from all groups represented in the wider community at a local, national and international level.

The University will endeavour not to discriminate unfairly or illegally, directly or indirectly, against student or potential students, staff or potential staff. This commitment applies to all functions of the University and to any stage of an individual’s career.

An Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form is included within the application form. Data you provide on the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form will be included in a general database, for statistical monitoring purposes, enabling the University to monitor the effectiveness of its Policy, Codes of Practice and Guidelines on Equal Opportunities in Employment. Individuals will not be identified by name.

Data Protection Act 1998: Your personal data will be processed in compliance with the DPA and from 25 May 2018 with the GDPR. The University’s Data Protection Policy and Privacy Notices, including the Job Applicant Privacy Notice can be found at http://www.aston.ac.uk/data-protection. Your application will only be used to inform the selection process, unless you are successful, in which case it will form the basis of your personal record with the University which will be stored in manual and/or electronic files. Information in statistical form on present and former employees is given to appropriate outside bodies.

Full details of our terms and conditions of service and associated policies and procedures are available online at www.aston.ac.uk/hr